Setting a microwave oven light into a recess that is accessible without the need to remove the entire protective metal case would not pose any challenge to most industrial design students.
A replacement light bulb for a microwave oven costs about $3 to $5 on eBay.
To install one in most microwave ovens is hazardous to the intrepid "do-it-yourself" enthusiast and prohibitively expensive when done by an authorised repairer.
The replacement of the fast-blow fuse in a microwave poses a further financial question mark, that influences the "repair or throw away" choice that needs to be made.
Though the replacement part costs around $1.25, replacing it may reveal that some serious problem persists - which will only become apparent if the new fuse blows as soon as the microwave oven is turned on.
Paying an authorised repairer to replace the fuse with the possibility of then finding that some other fault makes it cheaper to simply buy a new microwave oven might shift the balance in favour of just throwing the appliance away and buying a new one...
Some minor changes to microwave oven construction could make the replacement of a fuse and light build a two-minute task that could accomplished by any consumer - and without the need to own a screw driver.
The right to repair a product isn't that much help when products are designed in a way that buying a new appliance is more economic that having them repaired.
A panel-mounted fuse holder on the rear of a microwave oven would make a "right to repair" a useful thing for consumers to have.
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| Panel mounted replaceable fuse holders |
The issue of designing appliances to be "fixable" - in a way that is both financially and practically viable for consumers - needs to be considered.
Just the "right" to repair appliances alone won't help reduce waste ending up in land fill as much as can be achieved.
See 'Right to repair' laws for fixable electronics pushed forward after agreement at consumer affairs meeting by Tom Lowrey
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